Greenwood annexation won't include protesters

A group of residents will get their wish not to become part of Greenwood after city officials removed their properties from an annexation.

Greenwood City Council members approved annexing the land, which will clean up the city’s southern boundaries, without the seven properties belonging to residents who told members they didn’t want to become part of Greenwood.

The residents along Pushville Road, west of U.S. 31, said they saw no benefit to having their properties become part of the city. Five residents spoke at the city council meeting Monday, asking the city not to annex their land so they would continue to be able to have bonfires and not pay a monthly trash collection fee.

The city council approved 8-1 an 80-acre annexation that does not include the seven properties belonging to the residents. Council member Linda Gibson voted against the change to the annexation.

Annexations always include people who don’t want to be part of the city, and leaving pockets of unincorporated land will make another annexation necessary later, which will be an expense for the city, Gibson said.